The RojNews agency based in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) has turned to the UN in the case of its abducted editor Silêman Ehmed and called for support in clarifying his whereabouts. The journalist, who worked for the Arabic-language editorial office of RojNews in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, was arrested by ruling KDP’s security forces on 25 October and abducted to an unknown location. For 65 days, the authorities have not released any information about his condition or whereabouts, and his lawyers have also been denied any contact.

The KDP secret service accuses the journalist, who comes from Rojava (northern Syria), of having links to the PKK. His arrest at the Sêmalka-Pêşxabûr border crossing between the Autonomous Region of North and East Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) after a visit to his family in Aleppo was only confirmed by the Asayish (Local Security) in Duhok six days after his disappearance. RojNews describes the accusations against Silêman Ehmed as unsubstantiated allegations that have no connection to his five years of work as an editor.

The "Defence Group for Silêman Ehmed", which consists of several lawyers, has made over ten requests to the KDP authorities, but has still not been able to establish contact with their client.

In this context, RojNews also refers to the case of Wedat Hisên. The RojNews correspondent was abducted and murdered by the KDP in 2016. "Although more than seven years have passed since this murder, no one has been charged for it. We will continue to follow this case until the murderers are caught and convicted," said the news agency headquartered in Sulaymaniyah.